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One theme I’ve seen consistently in therapy sessions is this: How do I talk to new people? How do you start a conversation, come across as interesting, and actually build a friendship from that first interaction? Almost every person I talk to believes they’re the only one struggling with this. The reality? It’s becoming increasingly common. The way we engage with one another has shifted—much of our communication now happens digitally. And while that’s made connection more accessible in some ways, it’s also quietly eroded something foundational: our ability to make small talk. I’ll be honest—I don’t love small talk either. But it serves an important purpose. It’s the doorway to deeper, more meaningful conversation. Recently, I asked a client to simply observe moments where small talk might happen and notice what anxieties came up. They came back the following session with an unexpected realization: there just weren’t that many opportunities. Even something as simple as chatting with a cashier at the grocery store has largely disappeared with self-checkout. So if you feel out of practice, it makes sense. If you never developed confidence in starting conversations—or if you used to feel comfortable but now feel a bit rusty—you’re not alone. This isn’t as obvious or automatic of a skill as people assume. And for most of us, the hardest part is the very beginning. So… where do we start?

Co-parenting is challenging under the best of circumstances—those all-too-rare scenarios where former partners genuinely get along. In those situations, communication flows easily, schedules are flexible, and both parents maintain a shared focus on their children's well-being. But for many families, that is not the reality.

Why is it so hard to make friends as an adult? A therapist explains common barriers like social anxiety, life transitions, political tension, and friendship trauma — plus practical ways to build meaningful adult friendships.

Anxiety isn’t always loud. It can show up as racing thoughts that never stop, constant self-criticism, or a body that never quite relaxes. For many people, anxiety feels like being stuck in “survival mode”—even when life looks fine from the outside.

In today’s achievement-driven culture, perfectionism often hides behind words like motivation, discipline, or high standards. But when you can’t rest until everything is flawless—or when mistakes feel like failure—it’s not drive anymore. It’s self-pressure dressed as productivity.

Do you find yourself saying yes when you want to say no? Do you feel responsible for everyone’s feelings but your own? If so, you may be caught in the cycle of people-pleasing — a common pattern rooted in anxiety, trauma, and the fear of disappointing others.